Senior Iranian Cleric Urges Pope Leo To Condemn Killing Of Khamenei

An influential Iranian cleric has called on Pope Leo XIV to condemn the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

“We expect you to condemn these heinous crimes against humanity and the disregard for the dignity of religious leaders in a loud and clear voice, and to brand them as incompatible with the teachings of Christianity,” Iranian state broadcaster IRIB quoted Alireza Arafi as writing in a letter to the pope on Friday.

Earlier this week, the pope voiced his concern over the escalating war in the Middle East and expressed his “profound sorrow” for all the victims.

The Vatican has also warned against an erosion of international law.

Arafi heads Iran’s religious seminaries and is a senior member of the powerful Guardian Council.

He was also part of the interim leadership following Khamenei’s death in an attack on Feb. 28 and before the appointment of a new supreme leader, his son Mojtaba Khamenei.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)